Health inspectors cite Boca Grande for having mice in the rice

Cambridge inspectors paid a visit to an East Cambridge taqueria after a customer reported rodents were chewing through the rice bags and leaving their droppings around the restaurant.

Erin Smith

Cambridge inspectors paid a visit to an East Cambridge taqueria after a customer reported rodents were chewing through the rice bags and leaving their droppings around the restaurant.

The customer told city officials he spotted the droppings in the upstairs dining area at Boca Grande at 149 First St.

The customer also noted the restaurant stores its rice supply upstairs and reported rodents were burrowing into the bags of rice, according to the Nov. 19 complaint.

When inspectors arrived, they found small holes in two 100-pound bags of rice and a few mouse droppings under the rack storing the rice, according to inspection reports.

“We’re not sure if there were mice in the bags but there were holes in the bags,” said Mariko Kamio, owner of the Boca Grande chain restaurants.

Kamio said exterminators visit the restaurant twice a month year round.

Field mice often try to come inside buildings in the area in the winter, according to Kamio.

“A lot of times when the weather changes, you just can’t control everything,” said Kamio. “We’ve had mice from time to time in the building and we put out traps every night believe it or not.”

The local chain restaurant was cited for eight health code violations, including mouse droppings on the floor near the hot water heater and rusted racks in the refrigerator. Inspectors noted a food worker changed gloves without washing his hands. They also ordered the restaurant workers to stop storing vegetables on the floor and to clean the shelves. During a re-inspection Nov. 28, inspectors said Kamio corrected all the restaurant’s violations.